WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Over the past year, we have watched an intense prescription drug debate unfold. As the nation focuses on an aging Medicare program and the escalating cost of prescription drugs, we must respond to the call from the American people to enact real Medicare reform.

When the 107th Congress opens in January, the political landscape of Washington will be an almost equally divided. While the American people did not give elected officials a mandate on any particular policy issue, they did give us a mandate to work together to find common ground. And the need to find common ground is perhaps most pressing on the issue of Medicare reform.

We must continue discussion on how to strengthen and improve the Medicare system and also find a way to expand Medicare benefits to finally provide prescription drug coverage for our nation's seniors.

Unlike medical care in the 1960s, today, a prescription drug regimen is at the heart of most hospital stays and medical preventive services.

Americans are now living longer because of advances in our understanding of medicine and of scientists' abilities to design more effective drugs. Medical technology has far outpaced Medicare's ability to adapt to the changing nature of health care delivery. In addition to its outdated medical benefits, the 35-year-old program is also in dire need of concrete structural changes.

While comprehensive Medicare reform has been criticized by many as "too much too soon," it is important to recognize that reform can be done incrementally. Both sides of the aisle agree that providing prescription drug relief for seniors is a national priority, but we must also recognize that trying accomplish a full modernization of the program in one fell swoop may be unrealistic.

What is important at this juncture is to build consensus on a core set of principles and concepts that will guide us through the development of legislation.

Our guiding principle in crafting a solution for Medicare reform is to marry the best of what the private sector can do with the best of what government can do. The government's role should be to provide financing and oversight to ensure affordability and access while allowing the private market and competition to spark innovation and restrain costs.

For several years we have worked together in a bipartisan fashion on this important issue, and we are committed to continuing these efforts.

With leadership from House, Senate, and from President-Elect Bush, we can forge a plan that will both meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries and ensure solvency of the program well into the 21st century.

We must leave the partisanship of the 106th Congress behind and take advantage of this unique opportunity in order to work towards a realistic compromise that puts America's seniors first.

We can't play games with Medicare. The issue is too important to America's seniors and the future of the Medicare program. Americans expect our national policy to reflect the interests of their communities, their states and their futures. America's citizens have told us they want prescription drug coverage.

We must make our best effort to answer their call.